27. Massimo
Chapter twenty-seven
Massimo
H aving Alessia back, I feel like I can eat, breathe, and sleep again.
I was miserable without her.
On the way home, we don’t speak as I hold her in my lap and bury my face in her hair. “ Mi sei mancato molto, amore mio.” I missed you so much, my love.
“I knew you had nothing to do with it.”
“I know.” I lift my head and caress her cheek. “If you thought I did, you’d come for my head.”
She smiles and rests her head on my shoulder. “I’m glad you know me so well.” Her lips gently press against the side of my neck.
“I do.”
“They’re going to kill him,” she whispers.
“I know.” My jaw ticks, and I look up to discover that we’re already rolling up to the estate.
She lifts her head and stares me in the eye, her beautiful golden-brown eyes bouncing all around. The vehicle comes to a stop, and we put the conversation on hold to head up to our room, where we can speak freely.
“What will his men do when they find out?” she asks as we both stand there with some distance between us.
“I’ll have to get rid of some. Between Ezzo, Sarita, Vinny, Monte, and myself, we’ll be able to weed out the ones who were most loyal to my father.”
“Why did you do it? Why would you give up your father to get me back? Tullio called off the truce. You don’t have to marry me,” she says gently.
I stalk her. “I never had to marry you, Alessia.”
“Tullio also said it was you who procured our arrangement. Not your father.”
I dip my chin once and stop right in front of her. “I’ve wanted you for years.”
“The gala.”
“Yes.”
“So, was that a test or something?”
Amusement lifts one side of my mouth. “Sort of.” I let a gap of silence hang between us. “Ask me again why I traded my father for you. Why I was going out of my mind without you.”
She licks her plump lips, and they fall slack with short breaths. “Why, Massimo?” Her voice comes out as soft as a whisper.
Threading my fingers into her hair, I hold her close. “Because I love you, Alessia.” Her eyes widen slightly. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t prevent it,” I say with absolution and remorse, referring to the accident. “So damn sorry.” Knowing the pain she now lives with, it’s a burden I will, too, carry.
A tear escapes her beautiful eyes and trickles down her cheek. Calming her trembling bottom lip with my thumb, I brush the lonely tear away, and another follows. “Thank you for what you did, Massimo. It won’t bring back my father, but your actions speak volumes.”
I move in closer when she sniffles. “I hope it proves to you my loyalty and devotion.” Lifting her left hand, I press a kiss to her finger, still adorned with the ring I gave to her.
“It does.” She attempts a watery smile.
“I understand if you want to postpone the wedding, cara mia . If you need time, take all that you need. Know that I’m not going anywhere.”
Her face falls as she gawks up at me. “You…really still want to marry me?”
“I do.” I tuck some of her hair behind her ear and caress her cheek. Admiring her beauty I missed so much. “Were you not listening to a word I said?” I muse.
“You said you loved me and chose me, but we don’t have to get married. At least, not yet. We can just be together.”
There’s this weird twisting feeling in my chest. “You don’t want to marry me…” I despise the fragility betrayed by my own words.
“It’s just that…we don’t have to.”
I thought we were on the same page. That she possibly loved me back. Seems I’ve read the situation wrong. “Sure.” I swallow hard and take a step back. Fighting the urge to demand what I want.
“Massimo.” She jumps to me and cups my face. Panic in her eyes as she searches mine. “I love you too, I do,” she rushes out. “But if we’re going to do this thing for real, for love and not for an alliance, shouldn’t we try and do this right? We still hardly know each other and—”
I take her around the waist to pull her body into mine. “We know each other enough. I told you my love is not a fickle thing. When I love, it’s perpetual and set in stone. I don’t see the point in waiting, Alessia. I want to marry you.” I tighten my arms around her. “ Sposami .” Marry me , I rasp. “Be my wife, my regina .”
Her eyes dance around, then her pouty lips curl into a seraphic smile. “Okay,” she whispers.
“ Ti amo .” Another tear slips down her other cheek, and I’m reminded once again of her loss. Tullio warned me that she has yet properly mourn and to be gentle with her. She’s been doing her damnedest to be strong for everyone else, completely neglecting herself and her grief.
“ Ti amo tanto .” Her arms go around my neck, and her head falls back. “ Baciami .”